straub



F. J. STRAUB BLOCK MAKING APPARATUS inch 22, 193.

3 Sheets-Sheet i Filed Aug. 19, 1936 LVVENTOR.

8 U A R T 5 .Im F

BLOCK MAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1936 ATTORNEY ch22, 1938. S RAUB 21mm- BLOCK MAKING APPARATUS Filed Aug 19, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 3 M 39 l fj Patented Mar. 22, 1938 f n H 2,111,701

PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of making concrete building blocks, andparticularly to means for imparting surface treatment thereto while theaggregate is still plastic. 7

r In the manufacture of such blocks, made of a suitable aggregate suchas sand and gravel, cin ders, etc. mixed with cement and water andsubjected to tamping or pressing operations, it is desirable in somecases to secure a smooth or approximately smooth outer surface. In myprior Patents Nos. 1,651,420, 1,682,359, 1,692,355 and 1,987,721, and inapplication Ser. No. 60,073, are disclosed means and the method of sotreating one or more sides of a block. Such treatment to ,that extenthas proven generally satisfactory insofar as horizontal or verticalreciprocably applied trowelling or smoothing is involved, with a degreeof accompanying densification andlocal surface segregation of the finerparticles of the mix.

In connection with the manufacture and use of such blocks, it has longbeen desirable to provide a block with at least one side so surfaced forexposurein a wall. A further desirable result is in producing lines ofdirection, whether very minute or more prominent, in a curving directionas to the block when in location, for surface ornamentation.

That is to say, in a smoothing or trowelling treatment of a block facein plastic form, while an approximately smooth surface is possible, itis also true that minute grooves or'lines of direction are developedco-extensive with the original direction of movement of the smoothingface or faces.

After considerable experiment I have now devised a machine which iscapable of functioning in the desired manner to simultaneously smoothone or more faces of a block while in the tamping mold, during thetamping or pressing operation, and final ejection, so as to accomplishthe desired results and product, such machine forming the subject matterof this application.

In connection with the further description ref- 145 erence will be madeto the accompanying drawings showing preferred forms of apparatus whichmay be employed, in'which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the mold of a block forming machine and asmoothing disk applied to and forming one side of the mold;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof, partly in section on theline II-I I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the resulting block;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views like Figs. 1 and 2, showing the mold boxprovided with a pair of opposite disks providing the smoothing sidewalls of the mold, in lowered position;

Fig. 6 is a partly vertical section on the line VI VI of Fig.5; r

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal vertical section through a mold box showingapplication of a pressing plate in place of compressing tampers;

. Fig. 8 is aplan view, partly in section, on the lineVIII--VIII of Fig.9, showing a modified construction providing for lower face smoothing;

- Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section on the lineIX-IX of Fig. 8,with the hopper and tamps indicated;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the formed block ejected from the moldhorizontally;

Fig.1l is a sectional detail view of the tipping frame of said figures,tilted for removal of the block.

For the formationof the block of any desired rectangular shape anddimensions, I utilize a more or less conventional housing box comprisinga bottom wall or plate 2, end walls 3, and as in Figs. 1 and 2, a sidewall 4, the opposite side of the mold box omitting such wall and beingclosed by the smoothing or trowelling disk 5. r 5 j The block to beformed may be solid, or cored as in Fig. 3, in which case the cores 6are secured to and move vertically with the bottom plate 2. Aggregate isdelivered to the mold box in the usual manner by a hopper I slidable onplatform 8 and is compressed by tampers 9 following establishedconventional practice, or by other suitable compressing means.

In filling and tamping position the mold box is temporarily supported inerected position by any suitable meansas an adjustable bar or plate II].Guide rods ll extend from a base I2 through the mold box for maintainingit in position during vertical adjustment. Similar rods 13 I extend fromthe base through the bottom wall 2 for ejection of the block when themold box is lowered, and rods 13 are surrounded by springs M forre-erecting the mold box for the next operation. 7 i 4 In the machine asdisclosed I show the rotatabledisk 5 carried by its shaft 15 in bearingl6 of a swinging lever arm 11 pivoted on a shaft l8 and having anextension arm 19 provided with a counterweight 2U.

The bottom plate of the mold box is connected at 2| with a link or links22 having a terminal pin 23 adapted to be engaged by hook 24 of leverarm extension 25 upon lowering the disk 5, as in :dotted lines Fig. 2. r

Lever arm I! and the rotatable disk are maintained in normally operativeposition as in Fig. 2 by the counterweight and any suitable limitingstop, as abutment 26.

Disk 5 is adapted to lie closely against the open side of the moldforming a retaining wall therefor, and to be rotated by suitable gearingas pulleys or sprockets 21, 28, a driving gear 29 and connected chains,as will be readily understood.

I show in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a similar construction utilizing a pair ofdisks 50. arranged at opposite sides of the mold box 3a and forming apair of rotating side walls therefor. Otherwise the construction andoperation is the same as above described, the disks being located ateach side of bearing I6, with corresponding indicating numerals. I showalso in Fig. 5 one means for tilting the disk lever H as by a flexibleconnection 30 secured to lever extension l9 as at 3| passing oversheaves 32, 32, and provided with a depending pull terminal 33, wherebythe disk or disks may be lowered out of operative relation to the faceor faces of the molded block.

Such lowering of the disk or disks effects a continuous wiping andsmoothing action on the face or faces, passing therebeyond and inconformity with the lowering of the mold box by engagement of hook 24with terminal 23, leaving the formed and faced block in elevatedposition as shown. Thereafter the block is removed from the blockejecting rods I3 with its usual pallet 34, whereupon the mold box isthen erected for placement of the next pallet and a new charge ofaggregate, with corresponding erection of the disk or disks, for anotheroperation.

In such treatment the compressed aggregate in molded form is smoothed onone or both sides by the disk or disks, providing the trowelled surfaceor surfaces and with the annularly developed minute score marks over theside face or faces, as indicated in Fig. 3. It will be understood ofcourse that the compression of the aggregate may be effected by apresser plate or head 35 as in Fig. 7, extending slightly into the upperedge portion of the mold box as commonly practiced.

In either case the density of the formed block necessarily depends onthe applied force, but with either such application the aggregate isdesirably substantially uniform throughout from top to bottom. Thesmoothing action of the disk is preferably by its peripheral portion asindicated in the principal figures of the drawings, and its wipingaction tends to not only smooth and trowel the surface but toadditionally impel, segregate and distribute the finer particles of themix not only over the entire surface but at the side and end edgeportions of the block, leaving a definite finished corner or corners.

In Figs. 8 to 11 I show a modified construction in which the mold box32) rests by its open side on the face of a horizontally arranged disk5b mounted by its downwardly extending spindle l5b in a suitable bearinglBb forming a portion of the foundation framework of the machine. Insuch construction the cores 61) extend horizontally through the mold boxcavity through a carrying and pushing 'plate 25, whereby the formedblock may be separated from the cores and projected laterally from themold box. The aggregate is delivered by hopper lb and tamps 9b compressthe aggregate transversely between the cores, the operation otherwisebeing substantially the same as in usual practice. If desired, apreliminary facing charge of-fin'er material may be first placed in thebox, as indicated in the drawings.

Pusher plate 25 in operative position is located inwardly of the wall ofmold box 3b and a separable opposite wall or pallet 33b is removablewith the molded block from plate 2b, when the formed block and palletare projected laterally from the mold, as in Fig. 10. During compressionthe pallet plate forms one wall of the mold box and is retained by anysuitable means, as locking hooks c.

For the purpose of thus removing the block I provide any suitableconstruction as a series of rods or bars l3b connected with pusher plate21) and a rear cross bar framing 36 having a suitable operating handleor frame 31. Such manipulating mechanism is slidably mounted as by bar36 on a rear trackway 38 of the foundation. By such means the dischargeof the block may be effected by the operator.

Rods 42 also extend forwardly from bar 36 through suitable bearings inthe ends of the mold box and abut against pallet 34b, maintaining it inproper spaced relation.

At a suitable position beyond the mold box is provided a tilting angleshaped bracket 39 pivoted at 40 to suitable supports for outward tiltingwhereby to reverse the block with its plate or pallet 34?) into positionfor removal, the angle bracket resting temporarily on a suitableabutment support ll. In such position it will be understood that theplate 2b and the cores have been withdrawn.

In such installation, disk 51) is preferably located approximatelycentrally underneath the mold box, as indicated, and provides asubstantial support during the tamping or pressing treatment. As theblock is formed the disk 5b is in rotation and imparts the smoothing ortrowelling treatment to the contacting face of the block, such treatmentcontinuing during the ejection, and leaving the surface of the block inthe desired condition with a somewhat different minute curving lineeffect depending on the proportions of the disk, speed of rotation,surface finish, etc.

If desired, the face of the block may be treated by any suitablecoloring material, as in my prior Patent No. 1,692,355.

The construction and mode of operation of the machine will be readilyunderstood and appreciated by all those familiar with the block makingart and it provides means for securing the desirable effects of not onlyconsistency of product but also the desirable smooth and ornamentalfinish to the block face or faces.

The invention is especially novel and useful in providing means for awiping and trowelling treatment across the face of the block in aconsistently curving path.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with an open top mold box adapted to receive plasticaggregate and compressing means therefor operable through the top, oneof the face forming walls of the box being omitted, a rotatable facingdisk forming the closing wall therefor, means maintaining closing andcompression resistance between the mold box and disk during compression,and means effecting separation between the mold box and contents and thedisk, said means embodying a connection between the mold box and disk.

2. In combination with an open top mold box adapted to receive plasticaggregate and compressing means therefor operable through the open top,one of the face forming walls of the box being omitted, a rotatablefacing disk forming the closing wall therefor when the filled box is ina position subject to compression, means for rotating the disk while inconfining relation to the block in formation, and means effectingseparability between the mold box and its contents and the disk uponcompletion of densification of the aggregate, said means embodying aconnection between the mold box and disk.

3. In combination with an open top mold box adapted to receive plasticaggregate and compressing means therefor through the open top, one ofthe face forming wallsof the box being omitted, a rotatable facing diskforming the closing wall therefor, means for rotating the disk,

while in confining relation to the block in formation, and means foreffecting edgewise sepaation of the mold box .and disk.

4. In combination with an open top mold box having an open side, arotatable facing disk providing a closing wall at the open side, avertically movable frame therefor, means associated therewith forrotating the disk, and means cooperating with the movable frame forlowering and raising the mold box.

5. In combination with an open top mold box having a bottom and an openside and a depending lowering device, a rotatable facing disk forminga'closure for the open side, a vertically movable frame therefor havinga portion engageable with the lowering device, means for rotating thedisk, and means for erecting the mold box after lowering it.

6. In combination with an open top mold box having opposite open sides,a pair of rotatable smoothing disks forming closures therefor havingoperative connection with the mold box and a movable frame thereforadapted to move the disks across the faces of the block in formation,and means associated therewith for rotating the disks together.

7. In combination with an open top mold box having a bottom and an openside and a depending lowering device, a rotatable facing disk forming aclosure for the open side, a vertically movable lever arm thereforhaving a hook terminal engageable with the lowering device, acounterweighted arm, means for rotating the disk mounted on the leverarm, a lifting element connected with the counterweighted arm, and meansfor erecting the mold box after lowering it.

8. In combination with an open top and bottom mold box having a rearwall, and a horizontally arranged rotatable smoothing disk closing theopen bottom thereof, an inner pusher plate and an outer closing palletwall forming confining faces for the block in formation, a tippingsupport therefor, and pusher rods extending through the rear wall andconnected with the inner pusher plate.

9. In combination with an open top and bottom mold box having a rearwall, and a horizontally arranged rotatable smoothing disk closing theopen bottom thereof, an inner pusher plate and an outer closing palletwall forming confining faces for the block in formation, pusher rodsextending through the rear wall and connected with the inner pusherplate, guide rods extending through opposite ends of the mold box andabutting the pallet wall, and holding latches for the pallet.

10. In combination with an open top and bottom mold box having a rearwall, and a horizontally arranged rotatable smoothing disk closing theopen bottom thereof, an inner pusher plate and an outer closing palletwall forming confining faces for the block in formation, pusher rodsextending through the rear Wall and connected with the inner pusherplate, and a tilting receiving bracket for the formed block beyond themold box.

11. In combination, a horizontal smoothing disk having a supportingbearing and rotating means, an open bottom and top mold box on the diskhaving a rear wall and end walls and an open front, a closing pallet forthe open front, filling and compressing means for the mold box, a reartrackway, block discharging means mounted on the trackway and extendingthrough the rear wall of the mold box, and a pivoted angleshapedreceiving bracket in front of and flush with the surface of the disk anda support therefor when tipped with the block for removal on the pallet,

FRANCIS J. S RAUB.

